Many galleries are named after their founder, a tradition that dates back centuries. This practice originates from a time when art dealers built their reputation on personal expertise and close relationships with collectors. By naming a gallery after themselves, they signaled trust, authority, and a direct connection to the art they represented. Today, many renowned galleries still carry the names of their founders, reinforcing their legacy in the art world.

But at Root Gallery, we chose a different path.

The name Root was first conceived in 2014 when I was still a student, preparing for graduation. Root, as in a foundation, a return to the essentials. A former classmate and I discussed how difficult it was for artists to gain visibility, and we decided to focus on exactly that, creating opportunities for exposure.

The first three exhibitions I curated were pop-ups in vacant spaces across Rotterdam. The very first show already featured Donald Schenkel, and by the third, Lisette Schumacher was part of the lineup. In 2015, I assisted as a curator for an exhibition in an old prison, where I invited Sophie de Vos to participate. In 2016, while working as a freelance curator for a large-scale art event in Rotterdam, I commissioned Saïd Kinos to create a site-specific installation. Over the years, many of these artists have remained closely connected to the gallery, and their work has evolved alongside Root Gallery itself. This continuity, the ongoing dialogue between artist and gallery, is something I value deeply.

Throughout these early years, I was actively exploring how the art world functioned, always returning to the same fundamental question: What does an artist need to properly exhibit their work? This focus on the essentials—on the foundation of art presentation—is what Root has always been about. A return to the basics.

At first, it was called Root Expositions, because we were organizing exhibitions. Later, as the concept evolved and I was bringing together both artists and artworks, it became Assembled by Root. By 2018, when we moved into a storefront space in Rotterdam-Noord, it was clear that we had become a gallery in the true sense of the word, and so the name naturally became Root Gallery.

Although Root Gallery started as an experiment - perhaps more accurately, a research project - it has since grown into a fully-fledged, almost traditional gallery. Because ultimately, the art world functions the way it does for a reason. When I graduated from art school in 2014 and decided never to make work myself again, I found the art world fascinating in all its complexity. That curiosity, that ongoing exploration of how the system works, has never faded.

From 2021 to 2023, I ran a location without proper walls, a space that primarily allowed for large-scale installations. And after that, I made the deliberate choice to move the gallery out of the city. That constant questioning - of space, of visibility, of what an artist needs - has always been at the core of Root Gallery and continues to shape its evolution.

What began as an experiment has become a lasting presence, a space where artists can create, present, and connect. And while Root Gallery has transformed over the years, its essence remains the same: a place where art finds its foundation and where both artists and collectors can grow, together.

Why Root Gallery? The Story Behind the Name

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